Job 42:6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
If taken without context, this verse seemingly contradicts the entire message of Job. Yet with careful reading we begin to understand Job’s statement. The entire message of Job surrounds one who has done nothing wrong (Job 1:1), yet is permitted to suffer at Satan’s request (Job 1:11, 2:5), but always under the watchful limits of the Heavenly Father (Job 1:12, 2:6). Even after stricken with loss of family, physical suffering and enduring the taunts of an un-supportive wife, yet Job never sinned (Job 1:22, 2:3, 10). Job clearly had no reason for repentance for he had not sinned. Beyond this; Job chapters 3-37 contain the discourse between well-meaning but misinformed friends urging, chiding, and pleading with Job to ask forgiveness for surely he must have sinned to cause such suffering. Job might not have understood the circumstances, but he knew he was blameless and had no need for repentance.
While there may be other accounts of dust and ashes, or sackcloth and ashes, in the Bible; the first I recall was Jacob mourning what he thought was the loss of his son Joseph (Genesis 37). Clearly the use of dust, ashes, sackcloth was a custom used by early peoples to show contrition or abasement (e.g., loss, humility, remorse, guilt). And let’s not forget that Job is already sitting amidst the ash heap and has been since the onset (Job 2:8). So this is not an act of repentance of sin as much as it is a repentance of lack of understanding God.
After God himself speaks with Job, Job’s understanding of his own human nature and the Almighty nature of God causes Job to respond in the only way Job knows to be spiritually appropriate according to the culture of his time. It is a complete submission in humility to the God who is LORD and Creator of all things. It is no longer just hearing about God from generational stories, it is personally knowing and recognizing that God is in control of all things, and it is an acknowledgement of how humble we are to be before Him.
Today we have access to the same personal knowledge of who God is. It is by salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. It offers life with the same promise of future resurrection that Job anticipated. I am reminded of John’s testimony about Jesus, as well as Jesus’ own words.
John 3:31-36 (excerpts of John’s testimony) The one who comes from above is above all; …The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard … Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life…
John 6:40 (words of Jesus) “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Unlike Job, we do come before you in repentance of anything that has caused us to sin or fail you in any way. Like Job, we catch a glimpse of your Almighty Nature and respond with humility and contrition. Thank you for providing salvation through Jesus Christ so that all peoples of every nation might come to repentance. Thank you for the promise of resurrection and a future for eternity in your Kingdom. May we make the most of every opportunity to be a witness for you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
The devotional Therefore I Repent appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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